Trabzon is said to be founded in the 7th
century BC by Miletion colonists and then Alexis Comnenes founded the Comnenos
Empire, which lasted until 1461 when the Ottomans took over the area. The city
is now an important port of trade, continuing its role throughout the history.
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent was born here and Yavuz Sultan Selim, another
Ottoman sultan, was the regional governor of Trabzon when he was a prince. The
city is mostly situated on a table like promontory above the harbor. The citadel
is one of the oldest remains, and the first thing you will notice when entering
Trabzon, is a well-preserved 13th century Byzantine Church, now
restored as the Ayasofya Museum. The walls of this church are decorated with
frescoes which are the finest examples of Byzantine craftsmanship. The Fatih
Mosque in the city was once a Byzantine church. Trabzon is very richly adorned
with sightseeing areas and precious remains from the Byzantine period. On the
western slopes of the Boztepe hill, is "the Boztepe Park" with a beautiful view
of the city. In the village of Surmene, to the east of Trabzon, is a fascinating
19th century mansion, known as the Kastel. There are many
opportunities in Trabzon to cover all tastes. For example the Erikbeli and
Karadag meadows, south of Akcaabat, are quite good hiking and picnicking areas.

Taking a northeasterly direction towards the
inner parts of Trabzon and following a delightful mountain road, you can visit
the pretty mountain village of Hamsikoy and taste its delicious meals, before
reaching the Zigana Tunnel, which is the largest tunnel in Turkey. Then you may
head for the Zigana Ski-Center to feel the real joy of skiing, or for Gurgenagac,
Kirazli and Solma which are excellent meadows with magnificent landscapes and
pure clean air, for outdoor activities in the palm of nature. The most appealing
and breathtaking sightseeing area of Trabzon is the Altindere National Park. 47
kms southeast of Macka, this lovely park provides a fascinating setting for the
14th century Sumela Monastery of the Virgin Mary, which is perched on
the rock face 270 metres above the valley, at an altitude of 1300 metres. Within
the ruins of the monastery are the remains of magnificent frescoes. It is a
place of exceptional natural beauty. It was initially constructed on the steep
surface of rock, as a small church in the 4th century. In the 11th
century it was expanded into a monastery with 72 cells. Ottoman princes, as
regional governors of Trabzon, contributed to the upkeep of the monastery,
providing material and moral support. The awe-inspiring and magnificent view of
the monastery, with its frescoes and holy water, attract thousands of Turkish
and foreign visitors every year.

Time Line of Trabizond

A city and coastal region in northeastern Turkey, along the
shores of the Black Sea; west-southwest of Georgia. At the Sack of Byzantium in
1204, and subsequent establishment of the Latin Empire by marauding Crusaders, a
few members of the Imperial family escaped and established this state. Owing to
a combination of the typical Byzantine policy of extensive marraige alliances
together with notable difficulty of access by potential invaders, Trabizond was
generally ignored or bypassed by the great conquerors of the era; Seljuqs and
Mongols mainly.